Open Garden at The Nose, 21 – 22 September

Posted on 20/09/2013 by John Gray

The Nose is always open: you’re welcome to look around, pull up a weed or two, and of course help yourself to a fair share of what’s available for picking. Radishes available at the moment!, in our new Salad Bed.

This weekend, we’re especially open! From 2 – 4pm this Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be there to give you a tour, help you get started if you want to learn more about planting and growing, and to introduce you to some of the folk who keep The Nose going.

Maybe you’re already interested – looked over the railings a couple of times, but not made contact yet? Here’s your chance; we look forward to welcoming you.

The Nose is next to St Clements church, on Scarcroft Road.

While we’re online, we can’t help but share with you some of the judges’ feedback when they re-awarded us the Green Flag earlier this year. “Very welcoming … friendly appearance … it is hard to think of a way in which [the garden] could be used more effectively or positively to serve the needs of the community”.

We hope you agree; and even though the judges find it hard to think of better things we could do, we’re thinking about what we do next on The Nose. Cookery classes? A course in vegetable planting and harvesting? Plant identification sessions? Got an idea? Let us know!

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Green Flag Award 2014

Posted on 11/08/2013 by John Gray

We’re delighted that The Nose has just been awarded a Green Flag for the second year running. The Nose is the patch of ground outside St Clements Church, now a community garden maintained by Planet South Bank with the support of the church and the help of Abundance York.

The Nose joins five Green Flag parks and gardens in York – all the other five are Council-run. Awarded by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Green Flag celebrates high standards in parks and green spaces across the country.

Here’s a link to The Press’s coverage of our award. And many thanks to all the volunteers who have helped make The Nose the welcoming and fruitful place it is.

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“Help yourself” – but somebody did!

Posted on 19/07/2013 by John Gray

We say ‘Help yourself’ to the produce growing on The Nose – that triangular patch of ground outside St Clements Church, now a community garden maintained by Planet South Bank with the support of the church and the help of Abundance York.

‘Help yourself’ – and last weekend, somebody did!

They took all the onions and most of the garlic, which would have been better left to the autumn. They took the broad beans – only just big enough to eat. And, very inexpertly, they pulled up the potato plants but left most of the crop under the soil.

I suppose we’ve been lucky that this hasn’t happened before. We’re hoping that the produce has been eaten by local people – though how many times it might have been sold on for profit, who knows.

I certainly thought that the ‘help yourself’ implied ‘Take a fair share and leave fair shares for others’; Though I don’t like negative notices in a place that aims to be welcoming, perhaps we need to make the offer more explicit?

And I’m mindful of the economic situation, benefit cuts and the bedroom tax; did they have a part to play? For example, I’ve heard that acquisitive crime such as shoplifting has increased in the last year in parts of Newcastle – and what’s being taken are not the expensive electrical items, but meat and baby food. Could this trend be linked to what’s happening in York communities?

Anyway, there’s no serious damage to the Nose, and we’ll keep on keeping on. If you’re interested in learning how to grow fruit and vegetables – and how to harvest them! – get in touch info@planetsouthbank.org.uk. We have regular Saturday morning sessions at The Nose, 10.00 to 11.00am every fortnight.

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New season, new bed!

Posted on 01/03/2013 by cathmortimer

Lots of hard work, mostly by Giles, has created this new bed, on the south side of the ornamental cherries. This area was over-planted and crowded, with about a dozen shrubs, as well as the trees which are still there, so the shrubs have been moved to new locations and the trees pruned back to let light in.

Today, Keith, Cath and Giles worked to empty out some of the compost bins, bury the compost in a bean trench and finished off this new bed, so it looks enticingly ready for use. Now, what shall we plant here? Come and tell us what you’d like to see here, perhaps during one of our Saturday morning sessions (the first is 2nd March).

New bed, looking lovely, March 2013

New bed, looking lovely, March 2013

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Bishy Road illuminations

Posted on 01/11/2012 by John Gray

The traders at our local shops are organising the switch-on of Festive Lights from 6.30pm Thursday 22 November. Ebor Street will be closed, and there will be a band, buskers and late night shopping.

There is a Christmas Card competition (for children 11 years and under) – the winner gets the amazing prize of turning on the lights! More details from Frankie and Johnny’s Cookshop; closing date for entries is 12 November.

The traders would like to hear from anyone willing to steward for part of the evening on 22 November. Please contact Johnny Hayes at pextons@hotmail.com if you are interested.

See you there on the night!

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We’re Green Flag Community Award Winners!

Posted on 17/07/2012 by cathmortimer

We’re delighted to announce we’ve been given the Green Flag Community Award, for our community gardening work at St Clement’s church! Many thanks to all those who have worked hard at the Nose, as well as to the church staff and congregation who offered us the space to garden in. We’ll be celebrating with cake (possibly green) on Thursday!

Digging at the Nose

A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the achievements of all those whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy. The scheme is run by a consortium, comprising Keep Britain Tidy, The Conservation Volunteers and GreenSpace. For more information see: www.greenflagaward.org.uk

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Lettuce for all!

Posted on 16/07/2012 by cathmortimer

There’s lots and lots of beautiful red lettuce at the Nose – and over the next couple of weeks, they’ll need to be eaten, or else go to seed, so get some soon! Giles shows us a classic  way to eat it, but do get in touch with other ideas!

Giles' delicious lettuce sandwich

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Thank you to our sponsors!

Posted on 08/07/2012 by cathmortimer

Many thanks to Fulprint the Printers who kindly printed up the scarecrow trails, on eco-friendly paper, of course!

We’ve just sent them a ‘thank you‘ which shows the winning scarecrows, and someone enjoying the trail.

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We’re hearing great things about what the traders are planning for the Bishy Road street closure and party on 4 July. See more on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bishyroad/128678520487075

For those who are marshalling or who would like to volunteer as a marshall, there is a drop-in meeting on Tuesday 26 June early evening. For information about what being a marshall involves, click here.

Information from Hannah about the meeting on Tuesday:

My names’ Hannah Bixby and I’m steward co-ordinator for the Bishy Road Street party on the 4th July.Thank you for volunteering to help us! We will be holding an informal drop-in session this Tuesday (26th June) between 5:15 and 6:45 pm where we can give you some information and let you know what needs to be done on the night. It will be held at Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road, the room is on the ground floor, the front door should be left open to go through and towards the back of the building. Please let me know if you can’t make this session and i’ll send the information over to you.

If you have any other questions i can be contacted on 07814684945 or Nathan Vasey, who is the event co-ordinator, on 07577419807

Thanks a lot

Hannah Bixby
Steward co-ordinater BRTA
hannah_b30@hotmail.com
Posted on 23/06/2012 by John Gray | Leave a comment

Bishy Road street party – a call for stewards

Posted on 31/05/2012 by John Gray

Bishopthorpe Road traders are planning a street part on the evening of 4 July.

The road and car park will be closed, and there’ll be a children’s area, stalls, shops to browse in, and many other activities – a celebration of our local street and the traders and residents who make it so special.

Help with stewarding is needed: setting up the event, clearing away at the end and primarily ensuring the safety of the attendees.

Stewards won’t have to be on duty for the whole evening, so you’d have plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere and the entertainments as well. Slots are 6-8pm, 8-10pm, or 6-10pm depending on what you’d like to offer.

If you’re interested to find out more, please contact Nathan Vasey (he’s one of the team at Pextons) at bishyroadstreetparty@hotmail.com

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